This is one of the few books in which I have enjoyed reading every single word. There is a wide selection of chosen plants, from around the world, ranging from everyday commonly recognized ones to lesser-known plants. Each section is perfectly balanced with scientific information, a brief story, a history and photographs. I appreciate every book that includes an index because it shows all of the hard work of research that goes into a book. I look forward to seeing it on the bookshelf.

I have always enjoyed books about botany, and this one was right up my alley. I have quite a few botany books, but I love how this book includes snippets of stories that accompany each plant. It makes everything much more memorable for me. I absolutely love this book and can't wait to get a hard copy!

This is such an interesting book. The author goes through a huge variety of plants, sharing stories of how they have been used (whether accidentally or not) to poison throughout history.

The pictures are gorgeous. Detailed and full of rich color. They draw the reader in.

While this book is suggested for YA, I found it fascinating as an adult. I would recommend to anyone with an interest in plants, history, or a combination of the two.

One of the best books I’ve read on poisonous plants. Not only is it very informative in an easy-to-read way, but the illustrations and photographs are gorgeous, as well.

a very interesting read. as a plant lover myself, this book was informative.
would make a gift to plant lovers, wouldn't suggest to kids or teens though because there are sensitive info like tobacco and other addictive plants and their sub-products mentioned.

A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants is a wonderfully fun read! I have had such fun in reading this book and I can't wait to share this book with others. The preface issues a warning for those with a light stomach but despite this, I devoured it's contents!

Many scientists have a hard time conveying their research material for general audience but Rebecca Hirsch absolutely thrives. She writes about many surprising and terrifying plants and enraptures her audience with tales of the unfortunate demise caused by those plants.

Fantastic book! I loved the inside peek at the folklore and science of poisonous plants, the gorgeous botanical illustrations, and the macabre tone. Highly recommend!

A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants by Rebecca E. Hirsch is a fascinating and macabre exploration of nature's dark side. Hirsch weaves together botanical science, historical anecdotes, and true crime stories to create a captivating narrative that is both informative and entertaining.
The book is beautifully illustrated with stunning photographs and detailed botanical drawings, which bring the deadly plants to life on the page. Each chapter delves into the history, toxicity, and potential uses of a particular plant, from the infamous hemlock that claimed Socrates to the more obscure deadly nightshade.
Hirsch's writing style is engaging and accessible, making complex scientific information easy to understand. She has a knack for finding fascinating historical and cultural connections, which add depth and context to the material. The book is full of surprising facts and intriguing stories that will keep readers captivated from beginning to end.
If you're interested in botany, history, or true crime, A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants is a must-read. It's a beautifully crafted book that will leave you both informed and entertained.

A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants serves as a great introduction to phytotoxicology or even botany in general. The author introduces each plant with beautiful illustrations and some historically significant events such as infamous cases of poisoning and/or murder. This is followed up with some of the science (ex. Specific toxin) behind the plant and its effects on the human body. Relevant photos are included. I learned a lot about the shocking history of some of the plants such as the opium poppy and the coca plant. There were some plants that I had never heard of like white snakeroot and the manchineel tree. I loved the author’s tone throughout. The author speaks to you as “dear reader,” like it’s a fun conversation. It added to the voice in my head as I read it. It felt like Bridgerton meets Witchcraft. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it got me way more interested in the plants looming in my yard. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Fairly misleading, this book lists multiple non-poisonous plants alongside some deadly ones. The author also cites some historically inaccurate information, namely the theory that ergotism was the cause of the Salem Witch Trials, a theory which fell out of fashion years ago. Nevertheless, there is some excellent information in this book, and it is written in a way that I'm sure would be both educational and entertaining to audiences of a variety of ages.

I absolutely loved this book; it was like the intersection on the Venn diagram of things I find interesting: weird scientific facts, true crime, revenge, historical anecdotes. It's also filled with gorgeous illustrations and photographs. I will be needing hard copy of this one.

There are twenty-five chapters on individual toxic plants, from Belladonna to Hemlock to Opium. They are full of detailed science, effects on the body, history, mentions in mythology, true stories of their use, even warnings when the details were unsettling or gross.

I absolutely devoured this one, and probably made the man in my house nervous as I read snippets out loud with enthusiasm, ha.

Thank you so much to Lerner Publishing Group / Zest Books for this ARC to review!

This book was very informative but in a simple way. It wasn’t information overload. I really liked the layout of the books too since it departed out the information into different sections and sprinkled other information by using pictures and captions. I also really liked how each chapter began with the name of the plant, both scientific and common, with a picture of it. Also, it had a list of names for the plant that were the common names from different regions at the end of each chapter.

While plants might seem innocuous, Rebecca E. Hirsch's "A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants" proves otherwise. Hirsch delves into the macabre side of flora, exploring plants ranging from the usual suspects (opium poppy and tobacco) to lesser-known ones (aconite and heartbreak grass). While Hirsch's engaging writing style and grim topic will thrill readers who like horror, her careful research and use of facts make the book equally well-suited to those who like nonfiction. The book includes photographs, a glossary, source notes, bibliography, and list of books and websites for more information, allowing readers to do their own research.

The cover of this book is stunning and so are the pictures of the plants. I loved the stories of each plant but always found myself wanting more from the book, But I might be older than the target audience. Overall a very fun overview of poisonous plants.

This is an easy to read collection of information on poisonous plants. Each plants physical characteristic are described as well as the uses and effects the plant has on the human body. Of most interest to me was the historical information presented as well as contemporary accounts of poisonings both accidental and intentional. The book makes an interesting blend of scientific text and true crime. Additionally, the book is beautifully illustrated with vintage style botanical artwork and lovely photographs.

I loved all the artwork and photos throughout this book. I found it very fun and informational. I think this was a different and fun way to give this kind of information to kids and as a teacher, I absolutely approve.

I also showed this to my own kids and they said it looked "interesting" and was "good".

This book was so much more than I expected. I thought it would be a kids book and it was a very descriptive and educational book! I think middle and high schools would benefit from this informative book. I loved learning about all the different deadly plants. I do love to hike, but this book make me think twice about walking thru brush now!

I loved this book! Hirsch's many poisonous plants are wonderfully researched; some are creepy and others are more scientific. One can not forget the illustrations, which are gorgeous and plentiful. I have noticed a rise in the popularity of fun factual books by many of our younger patrons and this one will surely delight many!

This book was so interesting! I loved the mixture of info and anecdotes about each poisonous plant. I think this one is definitely a book that is better in print than in ebook format. The pictures were interesting and I think the layout definitely lends itself to a fun and quirky coffee table book. It is easy to pick up and read about a plant or two when you have a free moment. It is a bit quirky of a topic and I wish a little bit that the book had leaned more into that, but I really enjoyed it all the same.

Loved every inch of this beautiful book. It’s both informative and fun content. I was super engaged in every page, and the art was gorgeous. Additionally, I learned a ton about the history of poisonous plants, and some of the pop culture around some of the most deadly. This book would make a fabulous gift for any gardener in your life, and is excellent informative material to add to your reference library. I give this 5 solid stars.